The city of Tromso is the largest settlement in Northern Norway and is known as the “Gateway to the Arctic” as it was from here that many of the expeditions to the North Pole commenced. The city is actually located on an island that is joined to the mainland by a series of tunnels and an eye-catching bridge. It was to the mainland we made our way in the coach for the first stop of our trip today, the Arctic Cathedral.
This stunning famous landmark sits just off the bridge overlooking the city from the mainland. It isn’t actually a cathedral but an ultra modern church built in 1965 from concrete, steel and glass. It features a magnificent stained glass window that originally let in too much light in the long summer days and had to be altered to reduce the glare.
The rest of the interior is rather sparse, very much as expected in a Northern Protestant church. The outside features in its design eleven arched triangles.
After a short drive around the sights of the city, another striking building was to be our next stop, the Polaria Arctic Centre. The building is supposed to resemble Arctic ice floes but I think it looks more like a line of dominos falling down. What do you think?
The arctic centre focuses on the wildlife and fish of the Arctic region with an aquarium featuring fish from the area alongside a family of seals. Exhibitions highlight the effects of climate change in this area of the world especially on the flora and fauna. A very interesting visit.
Outside was Roald Amundsen’s famous ship on which he explored the North Pole and some interesting artworks.
Tromso is home to the most Northerly university in Norway and as such looks to be a very lively city with lots of bars and coffee shops. Disappointedly we were unable to try our skills at the ski jumps as there was insufficient snow for a decent run, perhaps next time!!
After the mess up on the trip that I mentioned yesterday we today received a full credit for the excursion. Obviously more people complained than I realised.
As we sailed out from Tromso the sun came out an allowed us to get some great pictures.
We took in the scenery when the captain announced that we would need to take a different route to our next port of call and would therefore berth about two hours later than planned. With the news I don’t need to get up so early we decided to relax in a bar and listen to some cool jazz.
Tomorrow the Lofoten Islands.